An invasion of "giant sex-crazed moths" are expected to hit Surrey homes in what is believed to be an attempt to find a mate.

The over-sized insects wake up around this time of year in the summer and residents are noticing them more than ever, Liverpool Echo reports.

However, wildlife experts say there is nothing to worry about the Poplar Hawk as they pose no harm to humans and merely exist to have sex.

They don't eat or drink and die as soon as the Laothoe populi have mated.

Tales of sightings of the over-sized moth have been shared around Facebook, yet there are even bigger moths out there.

Have you seen these giant moths in your home or back garden? Send your videos and pictures to tom.phillips@reachplc.com

Alan Gunn, subject leader in Natural Sciences and Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University, said: "As its name suggests, the caterpillars feed on the leaves of poplar trees. The caterpillars get very large but because they are green and feeding high up in the tree canopy we do not know that they are there.

"When they have finished feeding the caterpillars crawl down to the ground and pupate over winter.

"The adult moths emerge at this time of year but do not live very long. Hence they make a sudden dramatic appearance and are then gone."

The Poplar Hawk moth (Image: Julie Jones)

The moths fly at night but are attracted to light, so you might find them flying through open doors and windows, on railway platforms and anywhere lights are left on overnight.

Alan said: "They try and find somewhere dark and out of sight to rest during the day because birds find them very tasty. If you disturb the moths then they sometimes flash their underwings – this is a ‘startle response’.

"However, they are totally harmless and cannot bite. Indeed, they are unable to feed because their proboscis is non-functioning. So attempting to give them a treat of sugar water or putting them on a flower will not help them.